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see my mother. this is a duty which I have not allowed my self to perform during almost nine months that I have been here.

we are endeavouring to get the Lakes fortified in the best manner we can to prevent Burgoyne from passing them and entering the Colonies on that side."

A paper has been privately laid on the Congress Table importing that some dark designs were forming for our distruction, and advising us to take care of ourselves. some were for examining the Cellars under the Room where we set. I was against it and urged that we ought to treat such information with Contempt and not show any marks of fear or Jealousy. I told some of them I had almost as soon be blown up as to discover to the world that I thought my self in danger. no notice has been taken of this piece of information which I think is right.

My dear Sir:

8. William WHIPPLE TO JOHN LANGDON.1

PHILADELPHIA, July 8, 1776.

Yours of the 24th ultimo I have received. It grieved me that the frigates cannot be got to sea, which I am sensible they might before this, had proper attention been paid to cannon in season. I have been a long time endeavouring to draw the attention of the Committee to the regulation of the Navy, but hitherto without success. The present establishment certainly needs amendment, but business is so exceedingly pressing that it is impossible to form a judgment when it will be done.

I must refer you to the papers for news, as time just now is very precious. The Declaration will no doubt give you pleasure. It will be published next Thursday at the head of the Army at New York. I am told it is to be published this day in form in this city.

8

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[P. S.] I hope you will take care that the Declaration is properly treated.*.

Sir

9. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DELegates to the President of
NEW HAMPSHIRE.1

PHILADELPHIA 9th July, 1776.

Your highly Esteem'd favour of the 18 Ulto inclosing Instructions to join with the other Colonies in Declaring these United Colonies, Free

5 See the Journals, July 11 (p. 542).

An allusion to the Gunpowder Plot (1605), and the subsequent practice of searching the cellars of the Parliament building for explosives. It is not known what this paper was.

[8]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 118.

2 Thursday was the 11th. The Declaration was proclaimed before the army on the 10th. See no. 4, note 2, ante, and no. 9, post.

8 See nos. 9, 12, note 2, post.

See Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 381, 427.

[9] Copied from the original, then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1074, item 51; Force Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 136.

and Independent States, came very Seasonably to hand.2 as we were so happy as to agree in sentiment with our Constituents it gave us the greater Pleasure to concur with the Delegates of the other Colonies in the inclos'd Declaration, which was Yesterday publish'd in form in this City, and is to be Publish'd at the Head of the Army at New York next Thursday.

8

A plan of Confederation is now forming, which when finished will be transmited to each Colony for their aprobation.

Major Rogers (whose Conduct, it seems, was suspicious) was taken up some time since by order of General Washington, and sent under Guard to this City. He requested leave to go to England, by way of the West Indies but Congress not thinking it proper, have directed him to be sent to New Hampshire, to be dispos'd of as the Authority there shall think Best.*

We have the Honour to be with Great Respect,

Your Most obt Servts,

Colo. Weare.

JOSIAH BARTLETT,
WM. WHIPPLE.

Sir

IO. THE SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATES TO THE PRESIDENT OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.1

PHILADELPHIA 9th July 1776

Inclosed are the Resolutions of Congress respecting our Provincial Forces 2 We wish they may be agreeable to your Excellency to our Assembly and to the officers of our Army if they are not there is nothing compulsory in them Congress would not strictly comply with the Request we were ordered to make on this Subject lest they should establish a Precedent which might be injurious to the General Interest of America. We have therefore been obliged to vary our application and to adopt such Resolutions as seemed most conformable to the Intentions of our Congress and most likely to give Satisfaction to the Officers of our Army.

Inclosed also are some other occasional Resolutions of Congress and a very important Declaration which the King of Great-Britain has at last reduced us to the necessity of making. all the colonies were united upon this great Subject except New-York whose Delegates were restrained by an Instruction given several Months ago. their Convention is to meet in a few days when it is expected that Instruction will be immediately with

2 The letter and instructions are in Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., VI. 1029-1030. 3 See no. 8, ante.

* See the Journals, July 1, 6, Washington to Congress, June 27 (Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., VI. 1108), Hancock to Washington, July 1 (ibid., fifth ser., I. 1), and no. 19, post. See also vol. I. of these Letters, no. 289, note 5.

[10] MS. Journal of the South Carolina General Assembly, 1776, p. 116 (copy); Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXXVI. 71 (copy); Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 7.

2 See the Journals, June 18; cf. ibid., May 20, 25, 29.

drawn and the Declaration unanimously agreed to by the Thirteen United States of America.

8

We have procured an Order from Congress for Three Hundred Thousand Dollars for the Payment and Disbursments of our Troops which will be forwarded to you as soon as possible. Congress have also given Directions to the Commanding officer in Virginia about a Fortnight ago to send forward Five Thousand Pounds of Gun Powder to our Colony.*

With the greatest Respect we are

Your Excellency's Most obedient Servants

THOMAS LYNCH
EDWARD RUTLEDGE

ARTHUR MIDDLETON

THOMAS HEYWARD JUNIOR
THOMAS LYNCH JUNIOR.

His Excellency John Rutledge Esquire.

Sir,

II. ABRAHAM CLARK TO SAMUEL TUCKER.1

PHILADELPHIA July 9th 1776.

Your Letter of the 6th Inst: wherein you mention the want of Ammunition was yesterday before Congress. Upon Motion of your Delegates four Tons were Ordered to be sent immediately, on Continental Acct for the use of the Militia who March out to guard the Province untill the Flying Camp is formed, or for the use of the flying Camp if not expended before they take the field. I have the Pleasure to Assure you Congress pay particular Attention to the Defence of New Jersey, and hitherto have denied us nothing which we have Asked for that Purpose-they look upon our Province in great danger of being ravaged by the Enemy, and it is hoped you will not esteem it so far free from danger as to make your Continuing together unnecessary. . . . .

12. JOHN ADAMS TO SAMUEL CHASE.1

PHILADELPHIA, 9 July, 1776.

Yours of the 5th came to me the 8th. You will see by this post, that the river is passed, and the bridge cut away. The Declaration was yesterday published and proclaimed from that awful stage in the State-house yard; by whom, do you think? By the Committee of Safety, the Committee of Inspection, and a great crowd of people. Three cheers rended

8 Cf. nos. 2, 7, ante. The affirmative action of the New York convention was taken July 9. See Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 515-518; also the Journals, July 15, and nos. 18, 21, post.

4 See the Journals, June 15, 21.

[11] Me. Hist. Soc., Signers of the Declaration, I.; N. E. Hist. and Geneal. Register, XXX. 314.

2 See the Journals, July 8. The New Jersey letter of July 6, accompanied by a subsequent note of the same date, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 37. Cf. ibid., p. 346. [12]1 Works, IX. 420; Biddle, Old Family Letters, p. 8.

the welkin. The battalions paraded on the Common, and gave us the feu de joie, notwithstanding the scarcity of powder. The bells rang all day and almost all night. Even the chimers chimed away.2

As soon as an American seal is prepared, I conjecture the Declaration will be subscribed by all the members, which will give you the opportunity you wish for, of transmitting your name among the votaries of independence.*.

Your motion last fall for sending ambassadors to France with conditional instructions, was murdered; terminating in a committee of secret correspondence, which came to nothing.5.

Sir,

13. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADELPHIA July 10th. 1776.

The enclosed Letter from Mr. Ephraim Anderson, I am directed to transmit by Order of Congress.

As Mr. Anderson appears to be an ingenious Man, and proposes to destroy the British Fleet at New York, the Congress are willing to give him an opportunity of trying the Experiment, and have therefore thought proper to refer him to you.

The Event only can shew whether his Scheme is visionary or practicable. Should it be attended with Success, (and the very Chance of it is sufficient to justify the Attempt) the infinite Service to the American States arising therefrom, cannot be described. Or should it fail, our Situation will be, in every Respect the same as before.2.

2 See Christopher Marshall's Diary, July 6, 8; Pa. Col. Recs., X. 635; and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 119. * See the Journals, July 4, Aug. 20; also Adams's letter to his wife, Aug. 14, no. 77, post. The editor of John Adams's Works quotes from the letter of Chase to which Adams is replying: "I hope ere this time the decisive blow is struck. Oppression, inhumanity, and perfidy have compelled us to it. Blessed be men who effect the work! I envy you. How shall I transmit to posterity that I gave my assent?" Cf. no. 31, post, and see the Journals, July 19, Aug. 2. In regard to the signing of the Declaration, see vol. I. of these Letters, no. 758.

5 The committee of secret correspondence was appointed Nov. 29, 1775. Chase was then absent (see the Journals, Nov. 27). The suggestion that the committee had done nothing is not quite correct. See vol. I. of these Letters, nos. 377, 391, 534, 535, 546, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 63, 64, etc. Cf. the Journals, Dec. 11, 1775, Jan. 26, 30, May 10, 18, July 9, 1776. It would appear from this statement of Adams that it was Chase's motion that led to the appointment of the committee of secret correspondence. See no. 18, post.

[13]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, X. 179; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 155.

2 See the Journals, July 10, 22; also no. 14, post. Anderson's letter, dated July 9, proposing to destroy the British fleet by means of fire-ships, is in the Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, X. 181, and in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 155. See also his letters to the President of Congress, July 19, 31, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 451, 692, and Washington's letters to Congress, July 14, 27, ibid., fifth ser., I. 329, 620. Cf. ibid., I. 983; also Read, Life of George Read, p. 154. It was probably Ephraim Anderson who, over the signature "A", Nov. 4, 1775, proposed to the New York committee of safety a scheme for the destruction of British vessels. See Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., III. 1351, 1757. On July 11 the Pennsylvania committee of safety sent Captain Hazlewood

Sir

14. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADA. July 11th. 1776.

Agreeable to the Resolve herewith transmitted, I have enclosed Mr. Anderson's Letter to you, and wrote you on the Subject. He will present you the Letter himself.2

The Postmaster having established a double Post in Obedience to the Resolve of Congress, a Post will, after Monday next, leave New York every Morning, subject however to be detained, or hastened whenever you think the Publick Service requires it.3. . .

15. THOMAS STONE TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 PHILA July 12th 1776.

Gent.

Yours by Capt. Stricker was this morning delivered to me, and I shall pay particular attention to its contents, tho I much fear our endeavour to procure an Engineer to suit your purpose will not be successful. Every man who ever fired a Cannon or was present at erecting any kind of fortification has been taken up for the Continental Service.

Capt. Stricker will I think be appointed a field Officer in the German Battalion, for which I have no doubt but he is well qualified from what I have heard of him.2

Sir:

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16. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADELPHIA, July 13, 1776.

I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 10th Inst. ; and to acquaint you that it is now under the Consideration of Congress.2

The enclosed Resolves I do myself the Honour to transmit, as necessary for your Information. I have wrote to General Schuyler, and the Commissioners for Indian Affairs respecting the same.

to Washington with a similar object. See ibid., fifth ser., I. 186; cf. ibid., pp. 337, 338, 601, 728, 1454, 1548, 1556. About the same time Joseph Belton offered his services for the same purpose. See Franklin's letter of July 22, no. 33, post. Cf. vol. I. of these Letters, no. 340, note 2, where several other projects are mentioned. Some account of the work of the fire-ships is found in a monograph by Reginald P. Bolton, The Bombardment of New York.

[14] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, X. 184; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 185.

2 See no. 13, ante.

3 Cf. the Journals, July 5.

[15]1 Arch. of Md., XII. 35; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 219.

2 The council's letter, dated July 7, is in Arch. of Md., XII. 12. Capt. George Stricker was made lieutenant-colonel of a German regiment, July 17. Cf. Stone and Paca to the council, July 22, ibid., XII. 93; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 492.

[16] Furnished by the courtesy of Mr. James H. Manning, of Albany; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 253.

2 Washington's letter of July 10 is in Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 224, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 173. Together with Washington's letters of July II and 12, it was referred to the board of war July 15.

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